The projects, made possible by NYSERDA, support Gov. Cuomo’s Build Smart Initiative that aims to reduce power use at state buildings

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Energy-efficiency projects at the
University at Buffalo (UB), made possible by the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will save UB
approximately $513,000 in energy costs and eliminate more than
2,600 tons of global-warming, greenhouse gas emissions
annually.

The energy saving projects support Governor Cuomo’s
ambitious Build Smart NY initiative to increase energy efficiency
in state buildings by 20 percent in seven years by strategically
accelerating priority improvements in energy performance. The
comprehensive initiative will save millions of dollars for
taxpayers and create thousands of jobs while significantly reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.

“Increased energy efficiency projects like those at SUNY
Buffalo are critical to New York’s future, as they reduce
energy use, cut operating costs and improve our environment, while
adding jobs to the economy,” said Governor Cuomo. “The
University at Buffalo is demonstrating its commitment to
sustainability and supporting economic development in the region in
its partnership with NYSERDA on these improvements.”

The NYSERDA-funded initiatives move the university closer to its
goal to increase sustainability and become carbon neutral by
2030.

NYSERDA awarded $1.4 million for energy efficiency projects at
UB. Almost $1 million of the funding and $300,000 of the savings
are a result of LEED-designed (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) projects at the reconstructed and renamed
Kapoor Hall on the South Campus and at Davis Hall, the electrical
engineering and computer science building on the North Campus.

Other projects include Greiner Hall on the North Campus, the
Educational Opportunity Center in downtown Buffalo and Hayes Hall
on the South Campus.

The latest NYSERDA-supported initiatives at the university
continue an ongoing partnership with UB for past decade. Prior to
these projects, NYSERDA had awarded $1.1 million in incentives to
UB for other efficiency advances at newly constructed and existing
facilities.

Kapoor Hall, which houses the UB School of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences, is projected to be 29 percent more energy
efficient than the New York State energy code requires. Davis Hall,
the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences research facility,
is projected to operate at 34 percent higher energy efficiency than
the energy code.

To help offset the incremental cost of higher efficiency
equipment, products and materials, NYSERDA awarded $426,000 in
incentives for the Kapoor project and $522,000 for Davis.

Laura Hubbard, UB vice president for finance and administration,
said that the energy efficiency support being provided by NYSERDA
is helping the university remain at the forefront of sustainability
efforts within higher education nationwide.

“The university is committed to instituting best practices
in green building and energy efficiency as we develop
state-of-the-art facilities and living-learning spaces under the UB
2020 strategic plan,” she said.

“The University at Buffalo is an ideal client for
NYSERDA’s New Construction Program as it engages our
technical experts at the beginning of planning, enabling us to help
them build energy efficiency and green building features into their
project design,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and
CEO, NYSERDA. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the
State is committed to helping colleges, universities and other
campuses reduce energy costs.”

NYSERDA awards are in addition to an ongoing $17.9 million
energy-efficiency project initiated by the New York Power Authority
in July 2012 at UB’s North and South campuses that is
expected to save the university more than $750,000 a year and
eliminate more than 4,500 tons of carbon emissions annually. That
project is the latest phase of energy efficiency improvements that
NYPA has undertaken at UB since 2004.

Governor Cuomo’s Build Smart NY Initiative will support
his call for 20 percent energy efficiency in seven years by using
state building energy data to prioritize projects that will deliver
the greatest energy savings per dollar spent. The largest and most
inefficient buildings will be addressed first and undergo
comprehensive whole-building improvements. Build Smart NY will
accelerate projects that produce the greatest savings and
coordinate all spending. The program will also ensure that
cost-effective improvements for energy savings are considered in
all the state’s capital project planning.

In addition to its energy savings goals, Build Smart NY supports
Governor Cuomo’s larger NY Works program and economic
development agenda, which coordinates state funding to accelerate
projects that will create jobs and improve the state’s
infrastructure. NY Works is designed to expedite select projects
with maximum economic impact, allowing them to begin as soon as
possible and reduce project costs by hundreds of millions of
dollars

A Build Smart NY web platform was launched that posts progress
reports, case studies, energy savings, project costs, and other
information to the public, providing greater accountability and
transparency on government spending and performance. For more
information on this initiative, visit
www.buildsmart.ny.gov.

Media Contact Information

Dayle Zatlin
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Tel: 528-862-1090, ext. 3359
dez@nyserda.ny.gov

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